be busted
1. To be bankrupt or without money. I wagered all I owned on that investment, and now I am completely busted.
2. In the military, to be demoted in rank. The four lieutenants were caught with drugs and alcohol, and all were subsequently busted to the rank of cadet.
3. To be arrested by the police. I told you we'd be busted if we tried to sell alcohol without a license!
4. To be caught in the act of wrongdoing, bad behavior, or lying. I was busted by my parents when I tried sneaking into the house after curfew last night. I saw what you did, you are so busted!
5. To be broken, physically damaged, or in a state of disrepair. Ah, no one can get this car to run, it's completely busted.
busted flush
1. Literally, a hand in poker consisting of four cards of the same suit and one that is different, i.e., one card short of a flush. I thought I'd finally win the hand, but when I drew the ace of spades, I was left with a busted flush.
2. A person, organization, or thing that at one time held great potential or influence but that ultimately ended up a failure. Jack left secondary school with great grades and a bright future, but he became addicted to drugs and turned out a busted flush. The company promised big returns to investors but turned out to be a busted flush.
bust (one's/someone's) cherry
1. vulgar slang (of someone else) To have sexual intercourse with a virgin, especially a female. Before you go busting a girl's cherry, you had better make damn sure that you and she are both totally ready to sleep with each other.
2. vulgar slang (of oneself) To have sexual intercourse for the first time. There is nothing wrong with waiting until you're absolutely ready before you bust your cherry. Too many people try to pressure you into it from too young an age.
3. vulgar slang (of oneself) To do something for the first time, especially that which is particularly daunting, difficult, dangerous, or illegal. Somebody pass Marcus the joint, he still needs to bust his cherry tonight! For her birthday, I bought my friend Samantha a voucher so she could bust her cherry sky diving.
be busted
1. Also,
go bust. Become bankrupt, financially ruined. For example,
Who knew that the brokerage firm would be busted? [
Slang; early 1800s] Also see under
go broke.
2. Also, get busted. Be demoted, as in If you're caught gambling you'll get busted to private. This usage originated in the military and still most often denotes a reduction in rank. [c. 1800]
3. Also, get busted. Be arrested or turned over to the police, as in The gang members were sure they'd get busted. [Mid-1900s]
flat broke
Also, stone or stony broke . Completely penniless. For example, I can't help you-I'm flat broke, or He's stone broke again. The first term dates from the mid-1800s and uses flat in the sense of "completely" or "downright." The variant dates from the late 1800s.